The Minnesota Twins bid on Japanese starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, ultimately losing the bid to the Oakland Athletics, according to Joe Christiansen of the Star Tribune.

The Oakland Athletics won the bid, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The final bid was $17 million dollars, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.

Iwakuma is widely considered the best U.S.-bound Japanese pitcher, and is currently under contract of the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Yu Darvish, the top Japanese pitching prospect has made is intentions of avoiding Major League Baseball quite clear. Darvish, of Persian descent, said he fears anti-Persian sentiment is too prevalent in the United States.

The lower house of the French parliament approved a controversial pension reform bill Wednesday, according to CNN.

For the past few weeks, protesters have left school and work to join demonstrators in the streets protesting the bill. The National Assembly voted 336 to 233, with five abstaining, which ultimately passed the bill.

Six of the members of the crowd died when spectators without tickets attempted to storm in through the public entrance, according to ESPN. One other died after being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital and treated for wounds, the report said.

The entrance gate was broken down during the rush according to Kenyan Premier League CEO Jack Oguda.